
Lester 'Prez' Young
Lester Young - Born 8/27/09 in Woodville, Mississippi, died 3/15/59 in New York City. Along with Coleman Hawkins and John Coltrane, considered one of the most influential tenor saxophonists in Jazz. ‘Prez,’ (as he was nicknamed by Billie Holiday, with whom he often played), created a totally different sound from the extremely popular Hawkins – a style that was smoother, more linear and fluid. Played for a short time with Fletcher Henderson, but blossomed in Count Basie’s Orchestra where his beautiful lyricism, impeccable swing and unprecedented "cool" sound began to cement his permanent place in the Jazz pantheon. Was also part of the Jazz at the Philharmonic dates in the ‘40s and ‘50s.
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